A year ago I received an invitation from the head of Counseling Services at a major university to join faculty and administrators for discussions about how to deal with the decline in resilience among students. At the first meeting, we learned that . . . Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (5): The Imperishable, Immutable Word (1 Peter 1:22–25)
Travel broadens our horizons. It helps us to see that this is a great big world filled with an amazing variety of people, cultures, and wonders. In a way, traveling can even be transformative. When we return home you we are not . . . Continue reading →
John Brown of Haddington On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
Believers shall be adjudged to everlasting life on account of Christ’s fulfillment of the law in their stead…and their sentence will correspond with the nature, though not with the merit of their gracious qualities and works, particularly their kindness to poor saints, . . . Continue reading →
Knox On The Regulative Principle
All worshipping, honoring or service invented by the brain of man in the religion of God, without his own express commandment, is idolatry. The mass is invented by the brain of man without any commandment of God: Therefore it is idolatry. —John . . . Continue reading →
Ames On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
Lesson 4: In that judgment the condition of the pious and of the impious will be utterly dissimilar and opposed. This is taught in the text by the separation of the sheep and the goats, by the right hand and the left . . . Continue reading →
Caspar Olevianus On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
First of all, the reason for His coming to judge is a comfort to believers. The main purpose of Christ’s coming to judge is the glorification of the church. That means that when sin and death have been fully abolished, and the . . . Continue reading →
Witsius On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
XXXI. The sentence of absolution will be entirely gracious according to the Gospel strictly so called. “The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of p 289 the Lord in that day.” This is manifest, 1st, From the consideration of . . . Continue reading →
A. A. Hodge On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
16. Upon what principles will his judgment be dispensed? The judge is figuratively represented (Rev. 20:12), after the analogy of human tribunals, as opening “books” in judgment, according to the things written in which the dead are to be judged, and also . . . Continue reading →
Hodge: Christ Fulfilled The Conditions Of The Covenant Of Works For Believers
The second consequence attributed to the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, is a title to eternal life. This in the older writers is often expressed by the words “adoption and heirship.” Being made the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus On The State Of Believers In The Final Judgment
He shall judge all men, the living as well as the dead, the righteous as well as the wicked. He shall also judge the bad angels. Men are called the living or dead in respect to the state which precedes the judgment. . . . Continue reading →
Pictet On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
The passing of sentence will take place after the trial of the cause; first, the sentence of acquittal, then that of condemnation; the Judge will begin with the former, to show that he is more willing to pardon than to punish; and . . . Continue reading →
Ussher On The State Of Believers In The Judgment
Shall there be no difference in the examination of the Elect and the Reprobate? Yes. For, 1. The Elect shall not have their sins, for which Christ satisfied, but only their good works, remembered. 2. Being in Christ, they and their works . . . Continue reading →
Ridgely On The State Of Believers At The Judgment
The next thing to be considered, is the trial of the righteous, who are said to stand before Christ’s judgment-seat. Here it may be observed that no indictment shall be brought against them, at least, with the Judge’s approbation; for they were . . . Continue reading →
Wollebius: The Salvation Of The Righteous Depends Not On Works
X. The making of the charge is described by the metaphor of books or records in which the actions of the person who are being judged are written down. Revelation 20:12 ‘And the books were opened.’ By the word ‘books’ is to . . . Continue reading →
Strangers And Aliens (4): Living As Resident Aliens (1 Peter 1:13–21)
Peter wrote this epistle to be circulated among Christian congregations in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). He wrote to them about their faith, their hope, and their life living in this world—God’s world—as those who have been delivered out of Egypt, as . . . Continue reading →
“Are You A Christian?” On Martyrdom
The pragmatic calculation is to deny Christ. To take a shot in the kneecap, a ride to the hospital, and return home to the embrace of your family. To live to provide and care for them all the remaining days of your . . . Continue reading →
Tyndale On The Gospel
Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word; and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad, and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy: as when David had killed Goliah the giant, came . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 98: Salvation, Good Works, And Conditions
We in the Reformed world are in the midst of another controversy over sanctification, salvation, good works, and conditions in the covenant of grace. Are we justified by grace alone through faith alone but saved by grace, through faith and works? Is . . . Continue reading →
Why Do Christians Do Good Works?
86. Since then we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why should we do good works? Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own . . . Continue reading →
Fall Conference Season 2015: Identity, Eschatology, And Authority
It is the fall conference season. Here are three gatherings about which you might want to to know. One confronts the problem of identity: do we define ourselves the way the culture would have us do it or is there a better way? The second gathers a stellar group of Reformed teachers to help us through “end times” and the third focuses on the Biblical and Reformation doctrine of “Scripture alone.” Continue reading →